Friday, April 5, 2013

Right after Magnus Carlsen won the Fide Chess Candidates 2013 in London, we've had plenty of interviews in the Indian media from reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen will play Anand for the world title later this year. Here's a segment from another interesting interview by Anand.

PUNE: Vishy Anand's trusted second Pieter Heine Nielsen won't work with Challenger Magnus Carlsen during the Indian's defence of World chess crown.

"Nielsen will not be in either team," said Anand here on Thursday. "That's the deal. In fact, he told me that he won't be in either team if Magnus is my rival. So I leave it at that. Nielsen is a man of integrity. So I expect that to be the case."

Holland's Nielsen, who had coached Carlsen during the Norwegian's childhood days, worked with him during the recent World Candidates tournament in London. It prompted speculation that Anand will have a huge disadvantage going into the World Championship clash against the 22-year-old because of this 'switch'. But that's not the case.

"First time without Nielsen is a new experience. But then, life itself is a new experience," said 43-year-old Anand. "Even this team (Nielsen, Kasimdzhanov, Ganguly ) had a first time in Bonn."

Chess seconds know sensitive information about players' preparation. Anand's decision to prepare and opt for queen-pawn opening against Vladimir Kramnik was a closelyguarded secret which hampered the Russian's chances big way at Bonn in 2008. Garry Kasparov had roped in 'off venue' second Valdimir Kramnik in his World title match against Anand in 1995, especially for Slav defence. There was speculation that Carlsen worked for Anand during his match against Kramnik; and Kramnik, Kasparov and Carlsen offered informal help to Anand for his match against Veselin Topalov in 2010.

Going further back, Kasparov had sacked his second Evegeny Vladimirov after losing one game during his epic title match against Anatoly Karpov in 1986.